The CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project) is a leading global platform that enables companies to measure, manage, and report their environmental data. This voluntary initiative has become a strategic lever for increasing transparency, meeting stakeholder expectations, and improving climate performance.
The Carbon Disclosure Project, or CDP, is a non-profit organization that helps companies, cities, and financial institutions disclose and structure their environmental data. This process relies on a standardized questionnaire and a public scoring system to measure progress on key issues:
- Greenhouse gas emission reduction
- Water resource management
- Forest and biodiversity preservation
- Combating plastic pollution
The CDP contributes to a low-carbon economy by strengthening environmental transparency on a global scale. It is a recognized standard used by over 740 investors representing $136 trillion in assets.
Founded in 2000, the CDP offers a structured method for measuring an organization's environmental impact and communicating its commitments credibly. It specifically helps to:
- Collect reliable emissions data
- Identify climate risks
- Track transition plans toward carbon neutrality
A publicly traded company that responds to the CDP can leverage its score in CSR reports, tenders, or discussions with responsible investors.
Each year, organizations are invited to complete one or more questionnaires based on their sector:
- Climate (emissions, strategy, targets)
- Water (water risks, consumption)
- Forests (supply chains, traceability)
- Plastics (usage, recycling)
- Biodiversity (pressures and protection measures)
CDP assigns a score from A to F, based on maturity level:
Responding to the CDP questionnaire means:
- 🧭 Structuring your environmental management with recognized indicators
- 🔍 Improving your transparency internally and externally
- 💼 Attracting investors and partners who care about ESG impact
- 🛠️ Reusing collected data for other initiatives (EcoVadis, SBTi, etc.)
- 🏆 Standing out in tender processes
Some companies are invited directly by clients or investors, while others sign up voluntarily.
The cost depends on the organization's profile:
- SMEs or invited entities: often free
- Large companies: administrative fees ($500 to $1,000), with premium services available (up to $10,000)
👉 Fees are updated annually at cdp.net
Responding to the CDP is a complex task that involves multiple internal departments. Specialized support helps you:
- Save time using a proven methodology
- Maximize your score by meeting CDP requirements precisely
- Leverage data collected for other frameworks (SBTi, EcoVadis, etc.)
- Goal: environmental transparency
- Format: public scoring from A to F
- Focus: climate, water, forests, biodiversity
- Goal: CSR assessment (environment, labor & human rights, ethics, sustainable procurement)
- Format: confidential, score out of 100 + medals
- Focus: B2B relationships, tenders
- Goal: science-based validation of climate targets
- Format: recognized label, no scoring or questionnaire
- Goal: build credibility for a Net Zero trajectory
The CDP is an essential platform for structuring, showcasing, and improving a company's environmental commitment. By participating, you:
✅ Demonstrate your commitment to climate issues
✅ Showcase your environmental performance
✅ Build trust with your stakeholders
✅ Align your actions with top international standards
- 📌 CDP is a voluntary, standardized, international process
- 🌍 It covers climate, water, forests, plastics, and biodiversity
- 🧩 The scoring system (A to F) helps benchmark environmental maturity
- 💡 Participating helps structure your reporting and boosts credibility
- 🧠 CSR support is highly recommended to optimize your score
- 🔁 CDP complements EcoVadis or SBTi
Your company's sustainable performance
